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A little heartbeat!

Last updated: May 9th, 2008

Filed under Site News

Grace is about 15 weeks along now, and last Wednesday she had her monthly appointment with the doctor.

Very cool: while the doctor didn’t do a full-on , she did use a little portable unit, and we got to hear the baby’s heartbeat, which was a healthy 148 beats/minute.

It’s one of the most incredible sounds you can hear, believe me. And to think that there’s a little one slowly but inexorably forming and growing there just below my wife’s stomach is…just wow. To say that I am so in awe of , and to say that I am more than just grateful for her and this incredible thing that is taking place, would be a staggering understatement.

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UW in Portuguese; Exult and Pentagram snapshots; EUO 3D; Project Britannia update

Last updated: May 8th, 2008

Filed under Site News

I apologize for the gap in news updating; both my job and my home life have been rather busy these last few weeks, and I’ve had precious little time to stroll through “the Ultimasphere” to see what has transpired in terms of project developments and file updates.

So, without further ado, let’s get to the news!

PT-BR Underworld Translation

This translation of to is now 100% complete, with all text strings in the game fully translated.

They are seeking testers to look for errors in grammar and spelling. So if you, O Reader, are conversant in both Portuguese and English, and wouldn’t mind playing through Ultima Underworld again, be sure to visit the project website and drop them a line.

The patch can be downloaded from that same website, or via the project entry here at Aiera.

Exult

I noticed that the unstable 1.4 build for had been updated on May 3rd. The notable correction in this release deals with a crash that could be caused by a trap’s projectile effect.

As usual, the snapshot can be downloaded from the Exult website or from the project entry here at Aiera.

Pentagram

There hasn’t been any news from the team since December of last year, but they are obviously still working on the project itself; the Windows snapshot that is available for download was updated on April 23rd, and can be downloaded either from the project website or via the project entry here at Aiera.

EUO

As of May 5th, the client for has been updated, and can be downloaded either the project website or via the project entry here at Aiera.

Notable changes in this release are the addition of “popups” (I assume this is in reference to either in-game dialogues or message windows?), a help screen, the ability to re-map keys, and a few other odds and ends.

Project Britannia

The britannia_art.dsres and britannia_logic.dsres files have been updated. Changes this go-round include the addition of GUI elements for several throwable weapons, shoes(!!), and a bunch of new textures and meshes. Also, a Yew tree for Ben to chop has been added (methinks this is derived from the ?).

The updated files can be downloaded from the Project Britannia wiki or via the project entry here at Aiera.

* * *

Though not specifically an update to the actual remake project, the folks at the Ultima 6 Project would like to draw our attention to a charity group that they would like to encourage would-be donors to the project to support instead:

As many of you know, the U6 Project has been going strong for several years now, and it’s cost us a fair amount of cash to keep it going. Every once in a while we’ll get someone asking us if they can donate some money to the project. Well, since it’s an all-volunteer project and not a commercial venture, we can’t accept money. However - we’ve recently realized that there’s no reason in the world we can’t suggest a charity to which you could donate instead. While gaming is certainly a worthy cause, we think that it would be even better to give the gift of life and donate to the Susan G Komen foundation for breast cancer research.

http://www.komen.org/

Please note: The U6 Project is not affiliated with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization in any way, shape or form. We’d just like to recommend that you give your money to them instead of offering it to us. Thank you.

So maybe, just maybe, O Reader, go forth and make a bit of a donation in the names of the folks of Team Archon. I’m sure they’d appreciate it!

* * *

One last note: someone by the name of Chris (with an email address at grimmstudios.com) contacted me in regard to . Chris, if you’re reading this, I just sent my reply to you again; the last few attempts have resulted in the message bouncing back to me. I apologize for the delay, and would encourage you — if this latest attempt doesn’t get through — to contact me again and provide an alternative email address.

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EUO

Last updated: May 7th, 2008

Filed under Inspired Works, Online Remakes, Spin-offs

euo.png

Produced by: Max Breedon
Website: EUO
Releases:
* EUO Installer (3.34 MB)
* Patcher Update (use only if needed) (99.65 KB)
* Launcher (Client Configurator) (24.68 KB)
* Map Editor (158.8 KB)
* 3D Client (250.19 KB)

Borrowing a fair bit from other RPGs, is intended to be a real-time, single/multi-player, persistent-world …one that looks and plays much like or . The project site proudly proclaims that those looking for mouse support and -style graphics should seek their fix elsewhere.

EUO uses a -like skill system, without player classes. Combat is based on dice rolling like in (and with more Ultima Online influences, apparently). Although the original EUO did feature a U4-like tileset, the current iteration is completely original (although most monsters and traps will be familiar to Ultima 5 fans). Spells can be cast using either the Ultima 5 runes, or through a simpler list for the less-than--proficient.

Also, the game now incorporates the scripting language, meaning that the player can influence the dungeons to a greater degree through certain key actions. Leveling is done at shrines, with stats being upgraded along the same lines as happened in .

The game features over 100 NPCs and over 50 quests, with more being added all the time. And now, a 3D client is even available!

 
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Ultima 6 Project - Archon

Last updated: May 7th, 2008

Filed under U6 Remakes, Ultima 6

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Produced by: Exodus Project
Website: Archon
Releases:
* Milestone 1 (147.85 MB)
* Milestone 2 (225.61 MB)
* Milestone 3 (270.87 MB)
* Milestone 4 (356.82 MB)

Tools:
* Font Builder (618.99 KB)
* Interface Designer (1.22 MB)

Tech Demo:
* Tech Demo (36.83 MB)

Another remake, this high-profile (and high-tech) project aims to re-create , adding many of the same features to that game as Lazarus promises for : enhanced music, expanded storyline, new characters and additional side quests.

 
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Project Britannia

Last updated: May 7th, 2008

Filed under Engines, Spin-offs

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Produced by: Team Lazarus & Team Archon
Website: Project Britannia
Releases:
* Milestone 2 Release (169.36 MB)

Updates (may be unstable):
* Britannia Art (92.89 MB)
* Britannia Logic (2.03 MB)
* Britannia Sound (4.73 MB)
* Britannia Map (86.78 MB)

Utilities
* Project Britannia Development Environment (463.75 KB)
* Container Override example (1.48 KB)
* Dungeon Siege Font Builder (618.99 KB)
* Dungeon Siege Skrit API (1.22 MB)
* Skrit/Template Cross-reference (6.09 MB)
* Dungeon Siege Toolkit (22.68 MB)
* Lazarus Lorebook Editor (288.69 KB)
* Rapid Tank Creator (245.99 KB)
* Siege Tools for Eclipse (Full) (56.51 MB)
* Siege Tools for Eclipse 1.0.29 (Plugin) (864.3 KB)
* Siege University Compilation (9.82 MB)
* Tank Viewer (382.1 KB)
* U6 Project UI Designer (1.22 MB)
* Conversation Compiler (227.29 KB)
* Conversation Editor Plugin for Siege Tools (100.41 KB)
* Book Editor Plugin for Siege Tools (37.61 KB)
* NPC/Schedule/Chest Generator (1.02 MB)

Milestone 1 Release:
* Project Britannia (1 of 3) (85.31 MB)
* Project Britannia (2 of 3) (71.81 MB)
* Project Britannia (3 of 3) (5.58 MB)

This ambitious project, a joint venture arising from the copperative developments of and the — both -based remakes of their respective titles — aims to create a platform for the easier creation of Ultima remakes (and, one would assume, spinoffs).

It’s “short list” of features is really too long to name here, but includes dynamic weather, ship navigation (a feature lost in many modern RPGs), complete day/night cycle, NPC scheduling, reagent-based spellcasting, moongates, dynamic factions, and a custom-build branching conversation system.

Or, to sum it all up in three words: it looks cool.

Now, the development team for is pretty active, and they are constantly putting out updates. The ones hosted here are current to the best of Aiera’s knowledge, but they may be a few days stale. To that end, the most current versions of the update files can always be found at the Project Britannia Change Log. Please note that these updates are likely unstable at present.

 
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